The new normal.

That sharp intake of breath, the softly uttered expletive, then the word “sorry” – this is not what you want to hear when your other half is cutting your hair lockdown stylee.
Mrs D claimed she had watched a “how to” video on the web so had an idea of what to do before charging up the clippers.
I assumed she had been surfing “DIY flat-tops”, not “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.
On the upside I still have both ears and the doctor informs me the bleeding will stop fairly soon.
It grows back anyway right?
Only joking, as in all things, the boss has done a fabulous job, and as she buzzed away I had plenty of time to reflect on my morning walk on site at Ainsdale.
Surprisingly cold first thing, but it rapidly became obvious a fair few new Whitethroats had arrived – they were singing and leaping into the air all over the place.

Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers chuntering away too, and the Grasshopper Warbler that has been holding territory in the same spot for the last week was reeling loudly, and even occasionally visible – see pic at the top of this entry.
Today’s Rouzel encounter with two males followed the now well-established routine – rounding a low dune I locked eyes on a fine male, we both froze for nano-seconds then the Mountain Blackbird powered into the Creeping Willow and oblivion, trailed shortly after by a second bird I hadn’t even noticed until that moment.
Probably the same two birds that have been around since last week.
Probably, but I’m not complaining.
Several pairs of Teal, Greylags and even Shoveler have joined Little Grebes, Coot and BHGs on the more flooded areas, and Snipe seem to be lingering… it’d be marvellous to watch their evening display flight over the dunes again.
Walking off a beautiful blue Stock Dove rose in front of me – not scarce in the dunes by any means these days, but always a pleasure to come across.